Two men have each been ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to a victim they attacked in a Huddersfield street when they were drunk.

Recorder Kate Tulk described the assault by Andrew Featherstone and Paul Webster as “nasty, vicious thuggery” when she sentenced them at Leeds Crown Court after hearing the complainant is having to have reconstructive dental surgery.

Alisha Kaye prosecuting said the incident started on August 20 when the pair were reported by staff at the Cherry Tree public house in Huddersfield having stolen six sets of condiments as they left.

She said it was the misfortune of Philip Robinson to then be on their route.

He was doing a noise survey for a planning application close to Ibbotson Flats and had set up equipment when the pair approached.

Miss Kaye said Mr Robinson took out his mobile phone and took a photo of the pair as they walked away. They noticed that and returned one of them shouting and swearing at him.

One of the pair then punched him on the jaw causing him to stumble back and hit his head as he went down.

He thought he might have blacked out for a time but the attack was witnessed by a woman in her car at some traffic lights nearby who saw one man punching him while the other encouraged him.

She then saw the attacker pick up what she thought was something like a broom handle and begin hitting their victim on the shoulder area with it.

Meanwhile the second man, after kicking Mr Robinson on the ground, picked up the tripod and began striking him with it like a golf club catching his hand as Mr Robinson tried to roll away.

Mr Robinson was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary where he was treated for his injuries. One tooth had been knocked out and he was subsequently told he would lose several others as a result of the assault and need reconstructive treatment.

The court heard Featherstone told a probation officer on a scale of one to ten for drunkenness he was at 10 on that occasion and had little recollection of what had happened.

Featherstone, 43 of Bradley Boulevard, Sheepridge, and Webster, 33 of Town Place, Bradley each admitted assault, damage and theft and were sentenced to 18 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered to pay £1,000 compensation each.

Webster was also given a 15 day activity requirement which Recorder Tulk said would help him address his drinking.